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Dear Friends and Supporters,
Since January 3rd, we have witnessed voter participation in the Presidential Primaries and Caucuses across the country, in unprecedented numbers. At the top of the Democratic ticket, we have two extraordinary candidates seeking the nomination ---Democrats will more than likely make history in November.
As many of you know, in late December, I traveled to Iowa to help Senator John Edwards’ campaign. While the outcome was not what I expected, participating in the Iowa Caucus process was an eye-opening and worthwhile experience.
Why would someone come to Iowa in the middle of winter? A legitimate question to ask. And why should we consider Iowa important, no matter what the outcome, and no matter who the victor? There are many in California who viewed Iowa irrelevant. I traveled to Iowa believing it was important because the media and the pundits said so --- that could not have been further from the truth. You would think a trial lawyer could have figured that out. If juries can and should make important decisions affecting people’s lives, and if focus groups can truly reflect public opinion, than why not the laboratory of Iowa? Why is the slick 30-second commercial in California, with virtually no contact in a meaningful way with the candidates, any more relevant?
I found myself in the middle of the Heartland in the dead of winter. If you believe this election is about real change and real attitudes by those most affected by national policy --- eliminating the top 1% of those who have accumulated wealth, than Iowa was the place to be; if you believe the lower and middle class are the backbone of this country, then Iowa was the place to be.
It was in Iowa where I met the people of Newton, who are suffering the loss of jobs with the closure of the Maytag plant and the Steelworkers of Des Moines, who are struggling to support their families. It was the people of Marshalltown, where you can actually walk down “Main Street” complete with a traffic light and an old courthouse. These are real towns where people were engaged in the process of
electing the next President --- towns similar to the ones we all grew up.
In the months leading up to the November election, we in Orange County have an opportunity to make a real difference in the future of this country. The February 5th California Presidential Primary produced some amazing statistics, particularly in Orange County --- long been viewed as a “Republican stronghold”. In two of the five Congressional Districts, currently held by Republicans, Democrats were outperformed by less than 7,000 votes --- and in the 44th, a CD with a registration of 2-1 favoring the Republicans, Democrats outperformed by 234 votes! Encouraging news all!
There has never been a time in history, where your investment in the Democratic Foundation of Orange County holds more value. Because the top of our ticket is so strong, Democrats running in non-partisan School Board and City Council races have an excellent chance for victory in November. All of these candidates will need the help of the DFOC and the resources of its membership to succeed.
Please take a moment to check out the DFOC website to learn more about what we do. Becoming a member today, will strengthen Democrats in Orange County. Please feel free to give us a call at 714-979-4436 or email us at Josh@dfoc.com
I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months!
Wylie Aitken 
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